Flying toy mechanism



y 3 w. KROELLING 2,001,496

- I FLYING TOY MECHAIYISM Filed Jan. 23, 1954 a Mamma- 5 MALTER Keozzu/va W), ATTOAPNEYS Patented May 14, 1935 'iUNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention, as indicated, relates to a flying toy mechanism. More particularly, it comprises .a toy of the helicopter type adapted to be set in motion by means of a launching device adapted to give it a whirling motion and to discharge the same for free vertical flight. It also includes a launching member providing a support for the toy while rotative motion is being imparted thereto and providing means for relQ; leasing said toy for flight in a vertical direction after it has been given the required degree of rotative motion. The flying toy also includes the combination of a propelling member mounted on one end of a shaft and a stabilizing element mounted on the opposite end thereof, said stabilizing element having a structure adapted to serve as a guiding and balancing member during the upward movement of the device. The stabilizing element may be described as a counterpoise to give smooth rotative motion without shaft vibration.

Heretofore toys, of the helicopter type have been known, together with launching devices therefor, but such devices have not combined stabilizing means servingas a counterpoise during the upward movement of the structure and have not provided a structure having combined means for imparting a rotative movement to the toy and simultaneously moving it in a horizontal direction to a point of release for upward move-- ment.

,The principal object of the present invention is to provide a flying toy mechanism adapted to receive a high degree of rotational movement before the release of the toy and to provide a toy structure having a propelling member at its upper end and a stabilizing member at its opposite end-whereby the upward flight of thetoy is guided and stabilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the-character set forth which is of low cost of manufacture and of high efficiency in performance and of sufficient sturdiness of con- .struction to withstand severe handling.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a launching device for a flying toy whereby a high degree of rotative movement can be imparted to the toy preliminary to therelease of the same and without in any way adding tothe weight of the toy as a flying structure.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a launching device providing a handle member ,at oneend and a pair of angularly disposed slots at the opposite end forming members adapted to engage about the .shaft of a flying toy at spaced points whereby a flexible element wound about the shaft of the toy may be positioned intermedi ate the same preliminary to the launching operation, such element being restrained against upward movement until a desired degree of rotative speed has been imparted 'to such toy, and whereby the rotative movementof said toy served to move the same in the launching device to a point of discharge for vertical flight..

Other and further objects of the invention will 10 appear in the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in'the claim, the annexed draw 15 ing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structures embodying the inve ntion, such disclosed means constituting, however, butseveral of. various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. 20

In said annexed drawing:

Figure l is a sidev elevation partly in section showing'a flying toy and launching device in position ready for launching;

Figure 2 is 'a top plan view of the structures shown in Figure 1; f V

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating the launching operation;

Figure 4 is a side elevation'partl'y in section showing a flying toy assembled with a modified form of launching apparatus;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the engaging elements of the construction shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view taken along the line 6-6, shown in Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y I

In the preferred form of construction, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, .the flying toy comprises a shaft preferably formed of wood or other like materialand having its upper and lower end portions 2, 3, respectively enlarged to provide a clamping supporting surface at each end for a propeller 4 and'a stabilizer 5 respectively. The propeller may be secured to the end of 4 the shaft by any suitable clamping means, but as shown comprises a tapered terminal member 6 of substantially the diameter of the enlarged end of the shaft held in position by means of a wood screw 7 which is engaged axially with the end r of the shaft and firmly holds the propeller in position.

The stabilizer 5 is preferably in the form of a segment of a sphere having its concave portion directed downwardly and presenting a convex upper surface. It is engaged upon the lower end of the shaft in like manner to the method of clamping the propeller by means of a terminal 7' member 8 and a screw 9 axially engaging such member with the shaft, I. The shaft is preferably cylindrical about its central area and affords ample space for engaging about the circumference thereof a flexible member I I which may be in the form of a heavy cord. 7

The launching device I2 shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises an elongated member preferably formed of wood havinga handle section I3 and having a forward portion I4 preferably of approximately rectangular cross section. The forward portion of the launching device 'is provided at its free end with a pair of intersecting which provide pairs of upper and lowerprojecting. arms I 5, I 6, at such point. One of the slots I'I' which is positioned horizontally when the'launch ing device, is in operative position, is of much greater width and depth thanthe vertical slot I8 intersecting the same. The inter'sectingslots thus provide; a forward portion for the launching device which in launching position is heldso as to provide'anv open horizontal area within'which the cord windings about the shaft of the flying toy may be engaged and provide alined vertical channels open at their outer ends intermediate the upper arms 15 and the lower arms f 6 respectively, within which the adjacent portions of the shaft of the flying toy may be engaged. I e 7 .With thejstructme of thetype just described, when the flying toy is to. be prepared for launching, the cord II is wound about the intermediate portion of' the toy in a counter-clockwise direction as seen from below and the wound area of the shaft. is disposed within the space provided l I between thehorizontal slot "and the shaft of 40 the toy above and below such cord winding inrmediately. adjacent the enlargedhead'portions 2,. 3,- is engaged in the spaces provided between the upper and lowerarms l 5, I6, respectively, the inner ends of suchsl'ots being preferably of semicircular contour. The space between-the respec- 'tive pairs of arms J5 and I6 is greater than the diameter of the shaft I as is clearly shown in Figure 3, which permits rolling action of such shaftagainst the wall I3 of each of the upper and lower slotted portions in the direction of pull of the cord. Thus when the cord is sharply drawn 7 outwardly by the operator pulling thereon with one hand while he holds the handle of the launching device in theother hand, there is caused a rotational movement in a. clockwise direction as seen from above around the axis of the shaft 7 of the flying toy and simultaneously there is caused a rolling action of the shaft of said toy against the surfaces I3 against which adjacent portions of the shaft bear. 7 This combined rotative and rolling'action of the shaft continues .while the shaft progresses fromthe innermost portion of the space between the upper and lower arms I5 and I6 respectively toward the outer endofthe launching device, and as the shaft reached such outer end of the launching device, the full rotative force has been appliedfthereto so that the fly toy has the maximum propeller speed" for which it designed; and is set free at approximately the time when such speed reaches the maximum.

When so released, the toy will rise vertically due to the effect of the stabilizing element 5 at its lower end which has reactions against the air of such character asto hold the shaft free of vibragage over projections formed on the launching device-"presently to be described. Identical reference characters have been applied-tothe struc- Y tural elements of the flying toy shown in all the views of the drawing. 7

H Thelannching device 22 shown in Figures 4'to 6 comprises aLhandle portion 23 having a central aperture within which is engaged a coil spring 25 secured at its lower end 26 to the base of the handle,'and secured at its upper end to a rotating head 21 by means of a projecting terminal portion 28 embedded therei n. The handle is;provided at one side with an opening 3 F parallel to the central boreto receive a latch member 32 having a head portion 33 engaged in an enlarged recess 34 in alinement with the opening 3!. A coil spring 35'isdisposed in said recess and bears against said head member atone end and at its lower end bears-against an end plate 36 provided on the handle, said end plate having a suitable aperture toanchor thelower end 26- of the coil ture 42 centrally of the under side of the rotattating head 21 is formed with a projecting flange 45 spaced from the convex portion of the rotating head so as to provide a groove 46 within which the marginal portion of the stabilizing shell 5 may be received. The'groove extends circumr ferentially about the entire head except at two points diametrically opposite where upwardly projecting ribs 41' are provided, said ribs being of a size to fit within the notches providedon opposite sides of the stabilizing shell 5'. The under side of the rotating head is preferably pm vided with a metal plate 48 held by meansot suitable fastening elements shown as small brads 4'9, Said plate at a serics of pointsf spaced from the spindle a distance equal-tothe position, of the latchmember 32 in the handle, is provided with struck-up portions 5| which'enter suitable re-' cesses 52 formalin the under surface of the rotating head. The struck-up members thus provide shoulders 53 againstwhich the upper end of the latch member 32 may engage to prevent rotativermovement of the rotating head 21 until the latch member is released.

The release of the latch member is accomplished by forcing the spindle II upwardly by pressure upon a terminal head 54 formed on the lower end of the spindle, which action will elevate the rotating head a slight distance above the top surface of the handle portion of the device and permit the shoulders 53 to clear, the latch member 32 whereupon the spring 25 will be free to return to its original unwound position; During such unwinding operation, the rotating head will be given rapid rotational movement and the propeller of the flying toy as seen from above'will be rapidly spun in a counter-clockwise direction.

The blades of the propeller in the form of construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 are inclined for rotation in a clockwise direction, as seen from above, to cause the toy to rise, while they are inclined in the opposite direction in the construction shown in Figures 4 to 6, to cause the toy to rise. This change in the direction of inclination of the blades of the propeller is to provide for the pulling of the cord l I by the operator holding the cord in his right hand and the handle of the launching device in his left hand in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 and to permit the winding of the launching spring in a clockwise direction with the right hand while holding the rotating head with the left hand in the form of construction shown in Figures 4 to 6.

The launching device shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive not only is very cheap to construct, but shows an extremely high efliciency in causing the flying toy to rise to a great height.

The flying toy itself is preferably formed with a shaft of hard wood and with a propeller of thin sheet aluminum and a stabilizing element formed of a shell of thin sheet aluminum. Other materials may be substituted, in accordance with the size of the toy desired and the type of launching device employed.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

An apparatus of the character described having in combination a shaft having a central portion of reduced cross section providing spaced circumferential beveled shoulders at intermediate positions on said shaft, a propelling member secured to one end of said shaft, a stabilizing member secured to the other end of said shaft, a launching device adapted tobe engaged over said reduced central portion of said shaft in equally spaced relation to the propelling member and the stabilizing member, said launching device providing a handle section at one end and a shaft engaging section comprising members formed with two intersecting slots at right angles to each other, the arms on each side of said respective vertical slots engaging at their outer edges against said intermediate beveled shoulders on said shaft.

WALTER KROELLING. 

